Machine for seaming thermoplastic material



June 12, 1951 s. H. LAMPORT 2,556,476

MACHINE FOR SEAMING THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL Filed June 14, 1949 Q 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

IrIlr r/ 1 1/1 1/1 II l ll i////// J 3 S FIG.2,

UMP v I l8 ///l I I I INVENTOR SAMUEL H. LAMPORT,

ATTORNEY June 12, 1951 s. H. LAMPORT mcnms FOR swam; nmnmopmsnc MA'I'ERIAL Filed June 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FM on INVENTOR SAMUEL H. LAMPORT, J

TTORNEY J1me 1951 s. H. LAMPORT 2,556,476

MACHINE FOR SWING THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL Filed June 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet s N ID INVENTOR SAMUEL H. LAMPoRT,

TTORNEY June 12', 1951 s. H. LAMPORT MACHINE FOR SEANING THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL 5 Sheet s-Sheet 4 J 11 maul m Filed June 14, 1949 INVENTOR SAMUEL H. LA MPORT, j

ORNEY FIG. l4.

Patented June 12, 1951 UNIT ED STATES? OFFICE,

MACHINE FOR' SEAMING THERMOPEASTIG MATERIAL"- Samuel H. Lamport, Southbridge Mass assignor to Golding Bros. Company, Inc;,, New Yo'rli N Y., a corporation Application- June"14,-1949,S'erial No. 98,9032

This invention relates to apparatus for sealing theseams of.thermoplasticmaterial andhas par-' ticular' reference to. a machine for. sealing the seams. of. thermoplastic floor; material by fusion.- welding the abutting edges of same. after the flooring: material: has: been laid and partially cemerited" orotherwise attached to a floor.

object of this invention is. to provide asimple apparatus forfusion-weldingthe abutting, edges. of. a. thermoplastic floor covering, after same hasbeen laid and produce by said-machine a monolithic sheet.

A further object of this invention. is to provide an apparatus. for fusion-welding; abutting. edges of; sheets. of thermoplastic material to form. a sealed seamatthe abutting edges.

A still further: object of this: invention is the provision of an organization in. which: the cone stituent elements are so arranged structurally and functionally as to assure improved. results Withmaterials andlmembers which may be mane ufactured at reasonable cost, may be easily assembled and: which will be eflicient in operationwith minimum :wear to theparts.

The-best'embodiment of the. inventionhas been chosen: for: illustrative: purposes. but this. embodis ment should be viewed: as being illustrative only and not asrlimiting because. obviously. the: invention is capable of other embodiments; having re.- vised' details; of construction,.so long as they'fallfwithin the ambit of the appended-.claims;-..

The. invention itself however; both as; to its organization and. its method. of operation, will best be understood from thefollowing. description. of a specific embodiment when read. in: connection with the accompanying. drawings, in. which:

Fig. 1' is a schematic sectional view of adjoin-- ing. strips of thermoplastic floor covering: mate rialpartially attached. to a fioor and having the edges lapped.

Fig. 2 is aschematic sectional view showing the abutting edges: of the thermoplastic-floor coveringafter cutting has been accomplished.

Fig. 3 isa similar-sectional View but shows the introduction of a part of a fusion-welding machine which: will be hereinafter fully described.

Fig. 4is-a similar diagrammatic sectional view' showing a further step in the method and will: behereinafter'fully described.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the position of the fusion-welding machine as it. moves between the abutting edges of a thermo-- plastic sheet of material and will be hereinafter fully described.

Fig. 6 is an-elevational side view of the appa 80mins. (-01. rat-4 27 2i ratus for'f-usion-welding. and sealing. the seam of a thermoplastic. material and shows portions brokemaway...

Fig. 'Z is an. elevational view of; the front or leading endkof. the apparatus looking in-the direction: indicated by the arrow X: Fig. 6 and' has partsbroken=away:

Fist 8: is-an elevational: viewof theside: opposite to that shown in Fig. 6 and has parts broken .away:.

Fig. 9 is;:an'- elevation'al v-iew of therearendof the: apparatus: and has parts broken away.

Fig. 10 is apartial planaor top' -view of theappa-' ratusi Y Fig; 11 an enlarged partial plan or; top-view of. a part: of. the apparatus within the bracket line. B of Fig- 6, and: will. be: hereinafter fully described;

Fig. 12 is-an enlarged; longitudinal: sectional elevation of. the7part:shown:in =Fig.l'l' andds taken along the line- I 2-1-12 0? Fig. 1 1.-

Fig. l3-is a transverse sectional. elevation taken alongilined 3 l13OfiEigs'. -11 andal2z' Fig=.. 14 is at bottom ViB'W' of a roller? block and rollers forming-a part of the apparatus;-

Fig: 15 is& amend view.- of the said roller; block but WithOllUthB-TOHEISL:

Fig. 16 is.a longitudinalielevation ot a heater unit forming apart of tl-fedevicez.

alongthe lirie: Ideal-Bret Fig. 19 is a sectional plan view taken along. line' 19-49 of Fig. 12.

Fig 21 is" aside elevational. view. of the part Fig. 2211's a sectibnal-planview' ('enlarged) taken T'Ihe: method and. apparatus: herei-nbefore' gen-' erally and hereinafter: more fully described may bs employed to: fusiomweld: the abutting ends: of thermoplastic materials with the object of join ingthe parts; intoa monolithic-whole.- However,-

the embodiment illustrated in the: draw'ingssand now: to be described has particular reference to sealing. the seams of: strips: of. thermoplastic floor Fig. 181 an enlarged: transversesection taken Fig. 20 is a-transverse sectional elevation taken.

cessive steps involved in the method of fusionwelding the abutting ends of a thermoplastic fioor covering which has already been laid and partially cemented to a floor. Strips of thermoplastic floor covering II and I2 are partially cemented to a floor surface I3 and are so laid that the edges of the strips overlap as at I4. The said strips are attached to the floor I3 almost throughout their entire area leaving a margin S (Fig. 1) along their edges so that the said edges may be freely turned upwardly as shown by the dot-dash lines in Fig. 2. As a first step in the method, a cut is made through the lapped portion I4 of the thermoplastic strips I I and I2 as indicated by the dot-dash lines'in Fig. 1. When so cut abutting edges I5 and I6 are formed which fit closely together as at N, Fig. 2. At this point the said abutting edges are raised as shown by the dot-dash line in Fig. 2 and a foot plate portion I8 of the fusion apparatus is introduced under the said free portion of the said strips II and I2. A standard I9, partly shown in Fig. 3 is formed upon the said portion I8 and has guide blocks 20 to direct the free edges upwardly. The part I3 and its standard I9, together with the entire apparatus, hereinafter fully described, moves forward or towards the observer of the views in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and as indicated by the arrow A in Fi 5.

As the apparatus moves forward, the front of a fender 63 acts as a leading edge to part and turn up the edges I5 and I6 of the strips II and I2. The said standard I9 then follows and passing the turned up edges brings the rollers 22 into contact with said edges I5 and I6 and forces them downwardly into contact with an electrically energized heating element 23, suitably carried upon and bracketed to the said standard I9 at which point the abutting edges I5 and I6 are heated and properly softened. Rollers 24 are mounted and angularly arranged to urge the abutting edges I5 and I6 into close contact for fusing after the heating element 23 has passed on. A slotted roller 25 is provided to press down upon the said edges I5 and I6 to hold them in close contact upon the said heating element 23. Following rollers 26 and 21 hold the edges firmly in place as the heated and softened edges cool and become fusion-welded. After the passage of the roller 2! the edges have fused and cooled to form the finished seam I'I indicated in Fig. 5. The rollers further act to form an even and level junc ture at IT.

Apparatus Referring now to the apparatus to be employed to effect the fusion-welding above described, Figs. 6 to 22, inclusive, 3n designates a carrier frame comprising side bars 3I and 32, a front cross bar 33 and a base plate 34 extending rearwardly from and secured to the rear ends of the said side bars 3| and 32 by means of bolts 35. An upright plate 36 is secured to the front edge of the said base plate 34 and upright angle irons 31 are secured at the rear corners of the said base plate. A top plate 31' rests upon and is secured to the said upright front plate 36, all forming a cage within which there is mounted a fixed voltage transformer 38, a variable voltage transformer 39, a

connection box and plug receptacle 40, a motor M and a speed reducing unit 42. The shaft 43 of the speed reducing unit 42 carries a worm gear 44, which, coacting with a gear wheel 45 and a differential unit 45, rotates the split shaft 41-48. One section 41 of the said split shaft is mounted in abearing block 49 and has fixedly mounted upon of screws II.

4 its outer end a traction wheel 58, the peripheral surface of which is knurled to afford good traction when the wheel rotates. The other section 48 of the said split shaft is similarly mounted in a bearing block 5| and has secured upon its outermost end, a traction wheel 52 which also has a knurled peripheral surface. The said bearing blocks 49 and 5| are secured to the underside of the aforesaid base plate 34 by bolts 53 and 54 respectively. A detachable weight block 55 may be mounted upon the rear of said base plate to give added traction to the drive wheels 50 and 52.

At the front end of the carrier frame 36, upon the cross bar 33 there is pivotally attached a carrier block 56 vertically slotted at its rear end to form a recess 51. The said carrier block 56 is held upon the said cross bar 33 by means of a pin 58. A cut-out portion 59 extends rearwardly to allow oscillating movement to the said carrier block 56. A pair of depending cheek pieces 60 are attached to the lower end of said carrier block 56 by means of screws BI and carry between them a roller 62. The screws 6| also hold in place a guard or fender 63 which encloses the said roller 62. Threaded pins 64 engage through the recess portion 57 of the carrier block 56 and form a support for the aforesaid standard I9. The pins 54 are provided with hubs 65 (Figs. 7, 8 and 11) having radially extending handles 66 with which the threaded pins 64 may be turned to tightly clamp the said standard I9 to the said carrier block 56. A set screw 61 engages through the carrier block 56 and may be adjusted to limit the movement of the said standard I9 into the recess 51.

Extending rearwardly from the standard I9 and secured thereto by means of bolts and nuts 68, are bracket bars 69 which carry upon their outer ends an inverted U -shaped or yoke member I6 secured to the said bracket bars 69 by means A gate or swinging member I2 is hinged to one of the said bracket bars 69, as at 13, and is held closed against the adjoining bracket bar by means of a thumb nut I4 upon a threaded stem 75 which in turn is attached to the bracketed bar and engages a slot I6 formed upon the said gate 12. By removing the thumb nut 14, the gate may be swung open as indicated by the dot-dash line in Fig. 11. The said gate I2 acts as a lock to hold in place a plunger H which is adapted to vertical, reciprocal movement within the said yoke member 18. At the lower end of the said plunger 18 there is, pivotally attached as at 18, a roller block 19 carrying rollers 24, 25, 26 and 21, already mentioned, and hereinafter further described.

A cam 86, formed with an operating lever 8|, Figs. 12 and 13, is pivotally attached as at 82 in the slotted upper end of the said yoke member I0 and engages a grooved head 83 of a cam follower pin 84. The said pin 84 engages through a pocket 85 formed in the said yoke member I0. From the pocket 85 the said pin 84 extends into a space 86 between the legs of said yoke member 16. The lower portion of the said pin 84 is threaded as at 81, and engages a threaded bore 88 in a compression stud 89, the lower end of which engages loosely in a bore I56 formed in the upper end of said plunger H. A pin [5], having ass eave ofsaid head s 3 to-urge'-=the said camfollbwe'wpin 84 and its attach'ed' compression st'ud- 89; up

wardly. The upward movement of 'the said com pression stud drawsupwardly by the contact of pi'n' I5 I with the upper per-tion of the-said verti-- cally slotted groove I535 the saidiplunger 'I'I-- and its attachedroller block I9 and the rollersmounted thereon; A downward force is=- exe'rted upon the top of thesaid -plunger 'I='I-" by a plunger compression spring I55- d'ispose'cl' between a shoulder I56'on'thecompre'ssion stud Ililandthe the plunger 11 is exerted by the plunger com pression spring I 55; asth'e pindoesnot-reac'hthe bottom portion of theslot' I53. When the pres-- sure on the camfollower pin" 84; by a reverse rotation of the cam 80 about-its"pivota1'connec-- tion 82 is released; the retracting spring I54 forces the cam follower'pin84 upward withthe plunger compression stud" 89 which is attached thereto. Asthe said plunger compression stud Bil-rises,- it carries the pin- I-5 I- with it,- w-hi'ch; as it rises, coact's' with the top portion of the verticalslot- I53 in the plunger I1 and carries it and the roller block 79 upward and out of" contact with theabuttingareas at the seam of the strips I and I2.

Held between the bracket bars 69 at apointabout midway of their length; are cross shaped conducting members 98' and 91 insulatedfrom each other and from the said bmclret bars 69; The downwardly extending legs 92 and 93 of same carry upon their lower ends; the heating element 2-3; heretofore mentioned (Figs. 11, 12 and 13) and are secured to the said. legs 92 and 93 by screws 94a'nd9'5 respectively: The heating element 23 comprisesi-anzoblongimember'of electrical resistance material andillS formed with:-

an outer rim 96 and an inner longitudinally pro jecting prong 9-7 (-Figs. 1 6i 1 7- and 18), the prong being formed with an upwardly extending ridge; 98* and has an upwardly extending. lug 99 while the outer rim 95 is formed witharr-upwardly extendinglug I 60. The said lugs 9:9 and I 09. pro=-- videa meansof connection-with the legs 2 and 83 respectively. A perforation or. orifice Illla is formed in the aforesaid foot-plate" I8 in which the said heating element 23 is-suspendedt Atetachment lugs I02 and I03 (Fig. 11) are secured to the said conductor members 90 and 9| respectively to which conductor leads I04 and H95 are respectively connected.

The roller block I9 heretofore mentioned, is formed with channels I06, I01 and I 08 (Figs. 14 and 15) and pressure rollers 24 are angularly mounted in the channels I01 and I08 and have knurled peripheral surfaces. Pressure rollers 25, 26 and 2'! are mounted in channel I06 and are arranged in straight alignment with the movement of the said foot plate I8 and exert a downward pressure directly over the seam or abutting edges I5 and I6 of the said thermoplastic material. The roller 25 is formed with a peripheral groove 25' to ride over the ridge 98 in the said heating element 23. The leading pressure rollers 22-, hereinb'efbre mentioned; are-carried by de pending members V095 and I- I 0 (Fig-s.- 21 and 22")" which are fixed upon a shaft II- I, in; turnmounted abearin'g block I I 22- The said hear"- 5 ing block II 2 is-slotted at H 3 and engages over the-aforesaid standard. I9 to: which it: i's'fixed by a pin I I I. The said: shaft. III has a broadened outer end II5 to form a shoulder l l-t' which engages the side of'the depending-member H19 and "has; upon its opposite en i a collar Il which issecure'dtotheshaft I I-I bya: set screw H8. Set screws H 9 and- I ZU fi'x the depending members IMhand IIII respectivelyupon the said shaft II'I.

AL pin-1 or handle I 2 -I is securedto" the end I I 5 of "the said shaft III and afi'ordea means-for turning s'aidsha-f-t Pockets I22 and I 23-are formed in the said depending members I09 and" I IIlre spectively, and provide a housing for spiral spni gs I24 and l2 5 which encircle-the saidshaft H as clearly. shownlih Fig; 22 One; end of: the

spring I24 is anchoredto the said bearing block It! at I25, while the opposite end of same is an-' chored to the depending roller carrier member Hill at I21. One end of the spring I25 is anchored M the saidbearing block H2 at I28 while its line of. movement of the apparatus. along the oppositeendis-i anchored to the dependingroller carrier-member III]. at I29; The said rollers-22 are: mounted. in". the said depending members I69 and: a in angular alignment relatively to the seam: of the thermoplastic: material to be fused.

hipwardly' extending strapslSD are attached to the. top plate 31. andhavea handle bar I3'I secured to their. upper ends. to provide a carrying or: lifting: means as well. as an operators guide.

and insulated from the saidtop plate.

plate as well. as a switch I35 which. controls the current to the. motor 41.v units heretofore. mentioned, the circuitsconnecting.same, and their control switches, are conventional; and the circuits; while. partly shown in:

the? drawings, are not described as. they do not.

involve invention;

Operation As already partly set forth in the descriptionof'the method-involved in fusion-welding a thermoplastic floor covering, the foot plate I8'is'-in-- trod'u'ced beneath the abutting edges I5 and I6 of the thermoplastic-floor covering. Asthe motor drives the apparatus forward the lead end 2| or the-standard I9, parts'the abutting edges and the'rollers 22 urgefthe same together again, as

the apparatus-'- continues itsmovement tobringsaid edges into contact with the heating element. As the said apparatus moves forward, the heating element heats and softens the said abutting edges sufiiciently to cause their fusion. As the apparatus continues its movement, the pressure rollers 24 urge the said edges into closer contact. At this point, the roller 25 firmly presses the said abutting edges downwardly and the following rollers 25 and 21 exert a further downward pressure and complete the fusion-welding of the two abutting edges, leaving a smooth and even seam, as at H (Fig. 5).

While the foregoing description has been confined to fusion-welding a floor covering after same has been laid and partially attached to a floor, the method apparatus described, with slight The various. electrical.

detail modifications, may be adapted for fusionwelding sections of thermoplastic material not laid upon a floor. Sections of thermoplastic material in various forms may be fusion-welded into larger sections and may then be fusionwelded into large monolithic whole sections and the operation may be performed upon work tables and the like.

To facilitate their action, the rollers 22, 24, and 25 have knurled peripheral surfaces which, coacting with angular grooves I36 (Fig. 19) upon the foot plate l8, tend to urge the said abutting edges together as the apparatus passes alon the seam. The dot-dash line I31 (Fig. 12) indicates the approximate position in the apparatus of the thermoplastic material to be fusion-welded. Current is fed from its source by means of the conductor I38. The pivotally connected carrier block 56 with its attached roller 62 acts as a tiller and coacting with the diiferentially mounted drive wheels 58 and 54 tends to keep the apparatus in proper alignment with the seam as it moves along the same.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for fusion-welding the abutting edges of thermoplastic material, comprising a carrier frame mounted upon wheels, a standard upon the front of said carrier, a foot plate formed upon the lower end of said standard and adapted to move along the under surface of adjoining edges of sections of thermoplastic material to be fusion-welded, bracketed bars attached to and extending from the said standard, a plunger reciprocally mounted upon the outer ends of said bracketed bars, a roller block pivotally mounted upon the lower end of said plunger, pressure rollers in said roller block, means for holding the said plunger and attached roller block in a raised or lowered position, a pair of insulated current conducting members attached to and extending downwardly from said bracketed bars, a heating element attached to and having electrical connection with the said current conducting members, the said heating element being suspended within an orifice in said foot plate and being insulated therefrom, a motor mounted upon said carrier frame to motivate the said apparatus, and means for supplying current from its source.

2. An apparatus for fusion-welding the abutting edges of thermoplastic material as defined in claim 1, including adjustable depending members pivotally mounted upon the said standard and carrying knurled guide rollers thereon adapted to urge the edges of the thermoplastic material together as the apparatus moves forward.

3. An apparatus for fusion-welding the abutting edges of thermoplastic material as defined in claim 1, including a carrier block pivotally mounted upon said carrier frame and detach ably carrying the said standard, a lead roller upon the said pivotally mounted carrier block and wherein the said wheels upon the carrier frame are mounted with a difierential gear unit and adapted, coacting with the said lead roller, to maintain a proper alignment with the seam of the thermoplastic material, of the said apparatus as it moves along the said seam.

4. An apparatus for fusion-welding the abutting edges of thermoplastic material as defined in claim 1, including a carrier block pivotally mounted upon the said carrier frame and detachably carrying the said standard, threaded pins engaging through the said pivotally mounted carrier block and its attached standard to hold same in place thereon or permit its removal therefrom.

5. An apparatus for fusion-welding the abutting edges of thermoplastic material as defined in claim 1, including a pilot light illuminated when the said heating element is electrically activated.

6. An apparatus for fusion-welding the abutting edges of thermoplastic material as defined in claim 1, including pressure rollers upon the said roller block adapted to level and smooth the welded seam of said thermoplastic material.

7. An apparatus for fusion-welding the abutting edges of thermoplastic material as defined in claim 1, including a gate provided upon the ends of said bracketed bars adapted to swing open to permit the removal of said plunger and its attached roller block and a finger operated locking screw to hold the gate in closed position.

8. An apparatus for fusion-Welding the abutting edges of thermoplastic material as defined in claim 1, wherein the said foot plate has angularly arranged grooves formed thereon adapted to facilitate the movement of the abutting edges of the thermoplastic material together as the said apparatus moves along the seam formed by the abutting edges.

SAMUEL H. LAMPORT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,041,201 Turner Oct. 15, 1912 1,784,216 Aldrich Dec. 9, 1930 2,084,625 Stebbins June 22, 1937 2,220,545 Reinhardt Nov. 5, 1940 2,360,950 Kilgour Oct. 24, 1944 2,382,963 Dodge Aug. 21, 1945 2,516,280 Welch July 25, 1950 

